A Thornbury couple are celebrating their golden wedding anniversary.

John and Carol Woodward reached 50 years of marriage on September 25.

They married at St Mary’s Church, Wotton-under-Edge, in 1968.

John ran a successful building company Woodward Brothers for many years but is also well-known for making a replica of Britain’s largest Roman mosaic.

John spent ten years making a 2,400 square foot replica of The Great Orpheus Pavement after the original was uncovered in 1973.

It depicts musician of legend Orpheus charming all forms of life with his lyre and was the centrepiece of an elaborate Roman villa now buried beneath the old churchyard in Woodchester.

A community group is now trying to bring the mosaic back to the village after it was sold at auction in 2010.

Residents have been put in touch with the current owners and have started negotiations to loan the replica to put it on public display with a view to buying it in the longer term.

John worked on the mosaic and for much oh his career alongside his brother Bob.

Bob founded the charity CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) in 1976 after his son, Robert was diagnosed with cancer.

He was awarded an OBE in 2014.

John and Carol spent 45 years living in Cromhall before moving to Thornbury in the last couple of years.

The pair have three children, Christopher, Mark and Peter, as well as six grandchildren.

Mark described John and Carol as ‘great parents’.

“They have always been there for us and I wish them all the happiness in their future years,” he said.

The couple celebrated the occasion with family and friends at a surprise Sunday lunch and reception at Bodkin House.

“We didn’t know anything about it,” said John.

“They kept it very quiet and it worked out very well indeed.”

Reflecting on the last 50 years John added: “I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.

“The only thing I want to do is live it all again.”